Hi all,
A common expression is 'I'm going through a wilderness'. Sometimes people say; 'God isn't talking to me' or 'I feel like the Lord has left me.' Sometimes a person feels like they are in a wilderness if they haven't moved in the gifts of the Spirit or had a spiritual dream for a time. All these and more can go with the feeling of being in a dry spiritual wilderness.
We compare our wilderness to Israel in the desert
We feel like we are in a dry place trying to get to a spiritual Promised Land of fulfillment, purpose, and direction, which will give us peace and a closeness to God. In I Corinthians 10:1-13 Paul makes the point concerning Israel, that they were all under the same cloud of God, all went through the same Sea together, all ate the same manna, all 'drank from the same Rock and that Rock was Christ'. Yet with some of them God was not pleased because they fell into sexual sin, idolatry, and lust for the relative abundance they had back in Egypt. So the question is:Why the wilderness and what should we expect from it? Perhaps also:What should our attitude be when we are in a spiritual wilderness?
After mentioning Israel in the wilderness, Paul said in v6 and again in v11:"...these things happened to them as examples to admonish us..." The Greek word 'admonish' means to 'draw attention to, a mild rebuke, a warning (to take notice).' In other words - notice, study, learn and don't make their mistakes when you are in your own wilderness.
Consider Israel's wilderness experience...
The Lord gave Israel the 10 Commandments and the rest of the Mosaic law while Israel was in the desert. At that time, roughly 1400 BC, no nation owned that desert. This tells us the Word of God belonged to no single nation. It was for everyone, for any who would have Him. We might also say Jesus (the Word of God in the flesh) hung on the cross between earth and heaven, and in that in-between place owned by no one, He paid the price for all.
Otherwise, if God had given the Word to Israel after they'd settled in the land of Israel, they could have said no other nation may have the Word of God. If the Jews alone had crucified Jesus they might be able to claim Him exclusively as their own. But it was Jews and Gentiles (Romans) involved in the crucifixion of Jesus. Therefore the person who is the Living Word in the midst of His own wilderness, is for all who will receive Him.
Consider too...
If God's Word had been given to Israel within the land of Israel, all other nations would have an excuse not to receive the Lord. They could say with justification He is only Israel's 'god'. But He didn't, so no one has an excuse. The wilderness is no excuse to lose faith in God, for the greatest miracles in Israel's existence happened while they were wandering in the wilderness. He parted the Sea, turned poison water to fresh, made water pour out of a rock, supplied a cloud by day and fire by night, provided manna, quails, their clothes and shoes didn't wear out, and so much more - all while Israel was in the wilderness.
We too must look for His miracles while in our wilderness. Some of them complained of the way the Lord provided for them (manna) - let us not be like that!
This pattern of the Lord giving His Word in the wilderness is why so very often, a person draws near to God and feels spiritually strong in those times. Though in a wilderness, inside they are strong. They notice the 'little' miracles of provision (sometimes barely there), but also timing, grace, and many other signs that He is with them, and they are comforted.
Years ago I led a Bible study in a medium security penitentiary. The men in the Bible study had done very serious crimes and were in for life. They were in a wilderness they had made, and would remain until they died. But those men were more free than many people walking through normal life outside the prison walls. They were free in their spirit, in their soul, the Lord being so real, so gracious to them, and they truly exhibited the joy and peace of the Lord in the midst of the prison and its difficult prison culture.
Paul valued his wilderness experiences:"He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is perfected (matured, completed, made whole) in the midst of your weakness.' Therefore I will glory in my weakness that the power of Christ will reside in me." II Corinthians 12:9
Each person's wilderness experience is unique to them, and deeply personal
It can be claimed by no one else, and it proves we are just passing through, which is important to remember. Walking through a wilderness is temporary, just a season in life. When our oldest son Chris had a stroke at age 17, causing him to lose the use of his left arm and much of his left leg, the Lord told Barb:"Make this a moment, not a lifetime." The meaning being from heaven's perspective it is just a fleeting moment, and He wanted her to see that larger perspective in the midst of the crisis.
We aren't to stay in a place where we could say we were victims of circumstance - or that our wilderness came because of the sins of others - no, we shouldn't say that. "If only the Egyptians had just let us go voluntarily", isn't valid. "If only the pastor didn't have the affair with the worship leader I wouldn't feel so angry at them and God." "If pastor hadn't sinned I wouldn't feel like my whole spiritual world has crumbled." No.
No matter who did what and when, remember the saying; "If you don't feel as close to God as you used to, guess who moved?" Israel had to go through a wilderness to get to the Promised Land. Jesus' crucifixion caused the disciples to flee in shock and confusion. But resurrection day came. Wilderness is part of life on earth, but wildernesses are seasonal.
Peter wrote this in II Peter 1:4:"...through which are given to us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might come into fellowship* with the divine nature..." We look at the promises of God as answered prayer, so we do all to stand 'in faith'. We cast out demons, ask the Father for angels, maybe fast and pray as we await the promise fulfilled. *Greek:koinos, fellowship, having in common
But said He gives them first and foremost that we might fellowship in His divine nature. In my experience, in most cases, the quicker I focus on being more Christ-like and growing while I eagerly await the fulfilling of His promise, the faster that promise is answered. Rather than adopting the error that it is all on me to fight and stand and rebuke and fast and pray to see the answer, I stop and draw near to Him. I do all I can in that time to develop the character of Christ and fruit of the spirit while awaiting the promise to be fulfilled. Align your heart with His higher purpose of giving you the promise so you may fellowship with the divine nature, and the wilderness time gets shortened very quickly.
Next week; Tenderness in the wilderness. Until then, blessings!
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
A common expression is 'I'm going through a wilderness'. Sometimes people say; 'God isn't talking to me' or 'I feel like the Lord has left me.' Sometimes a person feels like they are in a wilderness if they haven't moved in the gifts of the Spirit or had a spiritual dream for a time. All these and more can go with the feeling of being in a dry spiritual wilderness.
We compare our wilderness to Israel in the desert
We feel like we are in a dry place trying to get to a spiritual Promised Land of fulfillment, purpose, and direction, which will give us peace and a closeness to God. In I Corinthians 10:1-13 Paul makes the point concerning Israel, that they were all under the same cloud of God, all went through the same Sea together, all ate the same manna, all 'drank from the same Rock and that Rock was Christ'. Yet with some of them God was not pleased because they fell into sexual sin, idolatry, and lust for the relative abundance they had back in Egypt. So the question is:Why the wilderness and what should we expect from it? Perhaps also:What should our attitude be when we are in a spiritual wilderness?
After mentioning Israel in the wilderness, Paul said in v6 and again in v11:"...these things happened to them as examples to admonish us..." The Greek word 'admonish' means to 'draw attention to, a mild rebuke, a warning (to take notice).' In other words - notice, study, learn and don't make their mistakes when you are in your own wilderness.
Consider Israel's wilderness experience...
The Lord gave Israel the 10 Commandments and the rest of the Mosaic law while Israel was in the desert. At that time, roughly 1400 BC, no nation owned that desert. This tells us the Word of God belonged to no single nation. It was for everyone, for any who would have Him. We might also say Jesus (the Word of God in the flesh) hung on the cross between earth and heaven, and in that in-between place owned by no one, He paid the price for all.
Otherwise, if God had given the Word to Israel after they'd settled in the land of Israel, they could have said no other nation may have the Word of God. If the Jews alone had crucified Jesus they might be able to claim Him exclusively as their own. But it was Jews and Gentiles (Romans) involved in the crucifixion of Jesus. Therefore the person who is the Living Word in the midst of His own wilderness, is for all who will receive Him.
Consider too...
If God's Word had been given to Israel within the land of Israel, all other nations would have an excuse not to receive the Lord. They could say with justification He is only Israel's 'god'. But He didn't, so no one has an excuse. The wilderness is no excuse to lose faith in God, for the greatest miracles in Israel's existence happened while they were wandering in the wilderness. He parted the Sea, turned poison water to fresh, made water pour out of a rock, supplied a cloud by day and fire by night, provided manna, quails, their clothes and shoes didn't wear out, and so much more - all while Israel was in the wilderness.
We too must look for His miracles while in our wilderness. Some of them complained of the way the Lord provided for them (manna) - let us not be like that!
This pattern of the Lord giving His Word in the wilderness is why so very often, a person draws near to God and feels spiritually strong in those times. Though in a wilderness, inside they are strong. They notice the 'little' miracles of provision (sometimes barely there), but also timing, grace, and many other signs that He is with them, and they are comforted.
Years ago I led a Bible study in a medium security penitentiary. The men in the Bible study had done very serious crimes and were in for life. They were in a wilderness they had made, and would remain until they died. But those men were more free than many people walking through normal life outside the prison walls. They were free in their spirit, in their soul, the Lord being so real, so gracious to them, and they truly exhibited the joy and peace of the Lord in the midst of the prison and its difficult prison culture.
Paul valued his wilderness experiences:"He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is perfected (matured, completed, made whole) in the midst of your weakness.' Therefore I will glory in my weakness that the power of Christ will reside in me." II Corinthians 12:9
Each person's wilderness experience is unique to them, and deeply personal
It can be claimed by no one else, and it proves we are just passing through, which is important to remember. Walking through a wilderness is temporary, just a season in life. When our oldest son Chris had a stroke at age 17, causing him to lose the use of his left arm and much of his left leg, the Lord told Barb:"Make this a moment, not a lifetime." The meaning being from heaven's perspective it is just a fleeting moment, and He wanted her to see that larger perspective in the midst of the crisis.
We aren't to stay in a place where we could say we were victims of circumstance - or that our wilderness came because of the sins of others - no, we shouldn't say that. "If only the Egyptians had just let us go voluntarily", isn't valid. "If only the pastor didn't have the affair with the worship leader I wouldn't feel so angry at them and God." "If pastor hadn't sinned I wouldn't feel like my whole spiritual world has crumbled." No.
No matter who did what and when, remember the saying; "If you don't feel as close to God as you used to, guess who moved?" Israel had to go through a wilderness to get to the Promised Land. Jesus' crucifixion caused the disciples to flee in shock and confusion. But resurrection day came. Wilderness is part of life on earth, but wildernesses are seasonal.
Peter wrote this in II Peter 1:4:"...through which are given to us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might come into fellowship* with the divine nature..." We look at the promises of God as answered prayer, so we do all to stand 'in faith'. We cast out demons, ask the Father for angels, maybe fast and pray as we await the promise fulfilled. *Greek:koinos, fellowship, having in common
But said He gives them first and foremost that we might fellowship in His divine nature. In my experience, in most cases, the quicker I focus on being more Christ-like and growing while I eagerly await the fulfilling of His promise, the faster that promise is answered. Rather than adopting the error that it is all on me to fight and stand and rebuke and fast and pray to see the answer, I stop and draw near to Him. I do all I can in that time to develop the character of Christ and fruit of the spirit while awaiting the promise to be fulfilled. Align your heart with His higher purpose of giving you the promise so you may fellowship with the divine nature, and the wilderness time gets shortened very quickly.
Next week; Tenderness in the wilderness. Until then, blessings!
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
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